Automatic liquid-weighing machine



(ModeL) Q 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. ORAWLEY.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID WEIGHING MACHINE. No. 257,474. Patented May 9,1882.

(ModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. ORAWLEY.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 257,474. Patented May'9,1,882.

(ModeL) E. ORAWLEY. 4 Sheets Sheet 3.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID WEIGHING MACHINE. No. 257,474. Patented May 9,1882.

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(Mod'eL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. C RAWLEY.

v 7 AUTOMATIC LIQUID WEIGHING MACHINE. No. 257,474. Patented May 9,1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVIN ORA\VLEY, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOlt TO SIMPSON 8t GAULT, FCINCINNATI, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID-WEIGHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,474, dated May 9,1882. Application and January 11. 1881. (Model.)

To all. whom it may concern Be it known that'I, EDWIN CRAWLIQY, aresident of the city of Newport, in the county of Campbell and State ofKentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLiquid-Meters, 0! which the following is a specification.

The primary object ofmy invention is to provide a machine wherebyliquids can be meas- [O ured with speed and with accuracy.

' The subordinate objectsof my invention are to secure compactness inthe construction of the machine, to produce a machine economic in cost,easy in operation, durable, and not liable.to get out of order, and easyof repair.

The various features of my invcntionemployed to carry into etft'ectthese objects will be fully apparent from the following specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figl'ire 1, Sheet 1, represents a top viewof a machine embodying myinvention, the rod L, which carries theweightsj and k employed to graduate the machine, being partially brokenaway, so as to show the graduated scale-rod M. Fig.

2, Sheet 2, is a side elevation of the same machine. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, isa vertical longitudinal section of the machine, said section being takenat the dotted line :0 w of Fig. 1; Fig. 4,

0 same sheet, is a vertical central section of the valve P. Fig. 5,Sheet 2, is a view of the devices for connecting the valve-stem to thesupporting-bar and to the weighted lever X, whereby the weight ofthe'valves is suitably conn- 3 5 terbalanced. Fig. 6, Sheet 4, is afront elevation of the upper portion of the machine. Figs. 7 and 8,Sheet 4, represent the device for allowing the liquid to be emptied fromthe machine. Figs. 9 and 10, Sheet 3, represent the valve-seat and thelower end or face of the valve P.

A indicates the frame of the machine.

B indicates the balance-beam, supported at the fulcrum a by arm 0,attached to the 5 frame A. 4

The oscillating pan l) consists of the two compartments or buckets, b,which alternately receive the fluid to be weighed until the desiredweight of liquid has been received. This pan D oscillates on a rod,'d,which passes through a sleeve, 0, located in the pan at thedivisionfbetween thecompartments I). This rod (2 is fixed to the lowerends of the suspension-rods E, which are supported by and swing uponbearingsg, having knife-edges, these bearings projecting from the sidesof the arms B. of the balance-beam. Attached to the arm B of thebalance-beam is the weight F, swung in the usual manner of weightsattached to the scale-beam.

The amountof the swing of the balance-beam B is regulated by adjustingthe stops it 7L2 on the bar h, which latter slides through a hole in thebeam G, the latter beam being attached to main frame A.

When the valve or valves P, which are more fully hereinafter'described,and which control the admission of liquid into the pan, are aboutthreequarters closed, it is necessary to keep the valves open to thisdegree, allowing the liquid to enter slowly into a bucket of the panuntil the bucket has received the'proper amount.

During the period of supplying each pan with liquid it is foundnecessary where the aperture is of any considerable size to diminish theflow of liquid when the bucket has received about three-quarters of theproper amount of liquid it is to receive. Were the flow not thusdiminished, the momentum of So inflowing liquid would force too muchliquid into the bucket and render the action of the entire apparatusunreliable. To practically obviate this difficulty the check-weightsj kare so suspended that the balance-beam, asit rises, takes the weight ofweightj and weight It successively.

The means here shown for suspending the weightsj and kjconsist of aswinging lever, L, fixed to the oscillating cross-beam I, and hav- 9oing its forward end projecting under the arch K, which latter isattached to the main frame A, and serves as a stop to prevent the other.end of the lever and the \veightsj I; from fulling more thana desireddistance as theweight 5 F descends.

The ends of the cross-beam each rest and oscillate upon acenter, Z, onthe portions 15 0f the balance-beam B. These centers Z are directly inthe center of the axis of oscillation of the balance-beam B. Weight 7cis suitably secured to the lever L. In the presentinstancc This machineis intended to measure out a' given quantity ofliqnids of differentdensities. For example, let us assume that the machine is to be employedto measure out the liquid by the gallon. Now, as the measurement iseffected by the weight of a gallon, and as the weight of a gallon ofliquid will vary according to the density of the latter to be measured,it becomes necessary to supply a provision whereby the machine may beeasily and quickly adapted to this change in weight.

In thepresent instance the following device is employed: A scale-rod, M,preferably lying in the same plane as the centers (4 of the main beam B,is attached at one end to the portion B of the balance-beam B and at theother end to a forward portion, 13*, of said balance-beam B. This rod Mis provided with a screwthread. A weigl'it, N, concentric with the rod,moves thereon, being provided with a female screw-thread, which engagesthe screw-thread on said rod. By turning the weight N in one or theother direction it is moved along the rod as desired. The weightN is setat the desired point on the rod M by a set-nut, p.

The top side of the rod M is preferably cut off, and on the fiat surfacethus formed a scale is marked, the graduations being such as to allowthe weight N to be properly set, so that the flow of theliquid into thebucket shall be cut off when thelatter has received the proper amount ofliquid by weight.

The receiving-vessel 1t maybe of any desired shape and size. In thepresent instance it consists of a pan whose depth is preferably greaterthan the height of the valve P, which controls the admission of liquidinto the buckets I). This vessel It is fed with liquid through thesupply-pipe S. This pipe isprovided with a regulating-valve, T, ofsuitable form. In the present instance it is that variety of valve knownas the butterfly valve, and is regulated by float U., This float U isloosely connected to arms g, which at their other ends are pivoted at rto the vessel R, as shown. A cross-piece, r, connects arms q. A forkedpiece, r whose arms connect below with levers 0', which move the valveT, is connected to saidcross-piece r, and is capable of verticaladjustment thereon by nut 1", whereby the valve T can be caused toregulate the inflow of liquid, according as the pressure on the supply-pipe S varies.

'Orifices 19 are placed in the side of the pipe S, whereby the latter isenabled to discharge its contents into the receiving-vessel R withoutallowing the current of inflowing liquid to impinge directly upon thevalves 1. There may be one or more of the valves 1?, and they consistessentially of a cylindrical wall, and are therefore provided with ahole extending from top to bottom, and rest upon valveseats to,preferably flush with the bottom of the pan, inclosing an opening, V, inthe bottom of the vessel it. The material ofthe valve at bottom isthickened, as shown, to provide for wear of the valve. The valve-stem ais held in position by any suitable device, as the spiders or webs 1;,attached to the valve and stem, and the spider or web a, attached to adownward extension of the valve-seat, and allowing the lower end of thestem to play freely through a hole in the center ot'the web c.

The objects of thus providing a skeleton valve are as follows: First,the weight of the valve is diminished and the amount of counter-balancerequired is lessened; secondly, the edge of the valve being thin, thetendency of the liquid passing out under the valve to upheave the valveand keep same suspended is reduced to a minimum; thirdly, the valvebeing opened as described, the flow of liquid cannot create a vacuumunder the valve and suck down the latter..

The valves are counterbalanced to almost their full weight, enoughweight being left in them to insure their descent at the proper time.Each counter-balance consists of a lever, X, fulcrumed at X, preferablyon knife-edged pivots, provided at one end with weight X preferablyadjustable along said lever, and at the other end secured to saidvalve-stems by any suitable connection, as hooks Z The valves aredirectly operated by the bar W, fixed .to and extending between the twoarms B of the balance-beam 1-3, and provided with knife-edges Z, onwhich the links Z (one of each being respectively connected to eachvalve-stem) are hung, and by which the aims are always suspended, exceptwhen down and resting upon their respective valve-seats. Instead of thecross-bar W, each valve may be supported on a separate pin projectingfrom the balance-beam.

The mode of connection between the links Z and their respectivevalve-rods is preferably an adjustable one, and is here made by ascrewthread. The valves reach their seats before the forward end of thebeam 13 ceases to descend, and the bar \V continues to descend after thevalves reach their seats, passing down through the opening in the linksZ. The moment the valves reach their seats their weight is removedfronrthe balance'beam, and thisdiminution of weight must becompensatedfor. This compensation is made as follows: Two compensating-weights,each consisting of an upright arm, 3, provided with weight 4 and arm 5,oscillate on pivots 2. The arm 5 rests on a knife-edge supported instirrups 6, whose arms are suspended between the receiving-vessel P. andthe frame A on knife- IIO edges 8 of the bar' W. When the rear orweighted end of the beam is down the upright arm 3 of thecompensating-weight lever is inclined slightly rearward to insure thekeeping of the arm 5 in contact withthe knife-edge of the stirrup 6 asthe latter descends. When the valves reach their seats the arm 3 and itsweight 4 have fallen sutticiently forward to be a weight upon the bar Wequal to that which the valves were before they reached their seats. Themomentum of the arm 3 and weight 4 in fallin g adds weight in excess ofwhat the valves would have imparted if still suspended, and the momentumis useful in insuring the continued descent ofthe forward ends of thebeam and overcoming the resistance made by the mechanism employed tounlock the pan D and allow it to be discharged, and in this manneraccuracy in the operation of weighing is insured. Preferably a stop,2l,'is provided to prevent the weight at and arm 3 from moving too farforward when the weight and arm are returned to their upright position,and thus the arm 5 is prevented from leaving its seat on the stirrup.

The pan D works within a receptacle or jacket, 9, which consists ofapan, 22, and hood 23, and which prevents the liquid from splashing andconveys it to a central outlet, 10, whereby it is delivered.

Any form of mechanism for unlocking the pan 1) and for allowing it to beoscillated in the direction of the bucket which is full and allow thelatter to deliver its contents, &c., may be employed.

I employ a well-known mechanism for accomplishing this purpose, which isas follows:

The suspension-rod E is provided with auxiliary arm 11, to the end ofwhich is pivoted a catch,12,havingapin,17,projcctingatrightangles to thelength thereof, and while the bucket is being filled fittinginto oneofthenotcheslS of Y the quadrant-slotlt. The end of t his catch has aprojection, 15, extending outwardly at right angles from the catch, anda part of the frame A is so formed, as at 16, to constitute a stop thatwhen the pan and rod E are depressed this projection 15 shall impingeagainst the stop 16 and be prevented from descending with the pan andarm, and the pin 17 will thus be raised out of the notch 13, in which ithas been resting,and thus the pan be free to oscillate, whereupon saidpan will turn in the direction of the bucket which has been filled, andthe latter will deliver its load at the bottom of the machine. As thebucket delivers its load the arms and part will rise and the pin 17 willenter that notch in the opposite end of the quadrant-slot which is nowin turn presented for the reception of said pin.

A locking and unlocking device like that above described is also placedon the other side of the pan. The pan D may be varied in construction.For example, it may have one or several buckets instead of two, asherein mentioned. The mechanism for enabling the descent of the pan tounlock it, so that the contents of one compartment or-bucket may bedischarged and an empty receptacle be then furnished to receive a freshsupply of liquid, will, in the event of a change in the construction ofthe pan, be suitably altered to perform such desired functions andaccomplish such results.

The mode of operation of the afore-described machine is as follows: Theliquid flowing from weight F, at which time the beam rises till it comesinto contact with the weight when the movement of the beam ischeckedtill enough additional liquid has been added to that already in thebucket to overcome said weights, when the beam again ascends untilweight j strikes weight it. In the meantime the valves have descendedand have nearly reached their seats, and the flow of liquid from thereceivingvessel into the bucket has been greatly diminished, butcontinues to flow until enough liquid has entered the bucket to overcomethe weight of the combined gravity of the weights F) 7;, whereupon therear end of the balance-beam will again rise and the front ends of saidbeam will descend,lettiug the valves down onto their seats and stoppingthe flow of liquid into the bucket underneath. By this time thecompensating-weights 4: have moved over rearward and brought enoughpressure on the bar to compensate for the loss of weight upon theforward end of the beam occasioned by the absence of the weight of thevalves 1, and the momentum of these moving weights 4 carries the beamdown past the point of equilibrium occasioned by the valves coming ontotheir seats and the weights 4 taking their place. Consequently theseweights etcentinue to move rearward, and the more they are inclined thegreater influence they exert in forcing down the forward end of the beamB. As the forward end of the beam and the pan continue to descend thecatch 12 is lifted and the bucket containing liquid discharges itscontents into the jacket 22, at the same time bringing the empty bucketinto position to receive the next installment of liquid. The forward endof the beam, being relieved of the weight of theliquid, immediatelyreturns, assumes its first position, and returning the valves andaccompanying parts to their first position, whereupon the like operationis repeated as long as there is liquid to supply the apparatus. hat Iclaim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

l. The hollow valve P, provided with the spider v and the guiding devicee, the lower edge of the valve constituting its face, and the face ofthe seat inclosing the exit-orifice, and being without a surroundingridge, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The hollow valve P, provided with a stem, at, located within thevalve and engaging a guideway, o, located in the orifice of thevalve-seat, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The hollow valve P, provided with a stem, a, located within the valveand engaging a guideway located in the orifice of the valveseat, thelower edge of the valve constituting its face, the face of the seatinclosing the exitorilice, and being without a surrounding ridge,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The hollow valve P, provided with a stem, at, located within thevalve and engaging a guideway located in the orifice of the valve seat,the lower edge of the valve being flush with the floor of thereceiving-vessel and constituting its face, the face of the seatinclosing the exit-orifice, and being without a surrounding ridge,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5 The combination of the weighted balancebeam B and the valves P,supported from the forward end of said beam, substantially as and forthe purposes specified.

6. The combination of the valve P and weighted leverX, fulcrumed atX-from arch or support K, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

7. The combination of the weighted balancebeam B and the valves P andweighted lever X, fulcrumed at X, and supporting at its forward end thevalves P and connecting and operating mechanism, substantially as andfor the purposes specified.

8. The combination of the weighted balancebeam B and the valves andweighted lever X, fulcrumed at X, and supporting the valves P anddevices for continuing the descent of the pan after the valves havereached their seats, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. The combination otthe weighted balancebeam B, bar \V, valves 1?,links Z, beam X, device 3 &t 5, and connecting devices, substantially asand for the purposes specified.

10. The combination of the valves P, the slotted links Z, and bar W,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

11. The combination of the valves P, the slotted links Z, bar W, stirrup6, and device 3 4t 5, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

12. The combination of the balancebeam B and the lever L, pivoted to andoscillating within said beam, one end of said lever being provided withweights and 7:, supported above the end of the balance-beam in such amanner as to enable the balance-beam to receive their weightsuccessively, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

13. Thecombination oftheweighted balancebeam B, receiving-vessel It,supply-pipe S, valve T, valve P, weighted lever X, device for continuingthe descent of the pan D when the valves reach their seats, and devicesfor enabling the descent of the pan to allow thelatter to discharge itscontents, and connecting and operating mechanism, substantially as andfor the purposes specified.

EDWIN ORAWLEY.

Witnesses:

WM. E. JONES, F. R. HILL.

